Space Science Track
DragonCon 1999

REV. F Changes: 9 (remove Richard Biggs), 13 (add Dyson), 16 (add Bruce A. Pruitt), 17 (add Dyson).

REV. E Changes: Add 14. Change Title: 18.

3 Thursday, July 01, 1999 04:00 PM

Mission to Saturn

The ringed planet Saturn and its large moon, Titan, will soon be visited by spacecraft from Earth. The Cassini mission will provide the best views yet of Saturn, and the Huygens Titan lander will be the first to explore the surface of this planet-sized moon. Come hear and see what we may expect from the Cassini mission.

Jerry Samples

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj.

4 Thursday, July 01, 1999 05:00 PM

The Earth at Night from Space

The night side of Earth is beautiful to see from orbit. So what's the problem? This slide show Illustrates the magnitude of the light pollution problem, and presents solutions that improve the quality of outdoor lighting for everybody.

Avery Davis

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector

5 Thursday, July 01, 1999 07:00 PM

Separating Fact from Fiction to Achieve More Systematic Scientific Discovery

The Hawking-Penrose debate on Godel's Theorem serves as an entry point to discuss the literal and metaphorical, the empirical and the speculative, as mutually indispensable tools in scientific discovery. Examples are discussed: the prevailing evolutionary and cosmological standard models. How these must be properly separated and labeled to distinguish the mythological (speculative) from the empirical (analytical) forms the basis for a more systematic development of paradigms.

William Gardiner

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead Projector

8 Friday, July 02, 1999 10:00 AM

NASA Is Going to the Stars!

Early in the next millenium, NASA will begin a systematic exploration of nearby interstellar space with the launch of our first Interstellar Probe in 2010 and culminating with an interstellar rendezvous in or around 2050. Robotic missions to explore the Kuiper Belt and for astronomy at distances beyond 500 Astronomical Units are already being planned. This presentation will describe these missions and the propulsion technologies that might someday make us an interstellar species.

Les Johnson

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead Proj.

9 Friday, July 02, 1999 11:30 AM

Flesh Eating Bacteria, Mad Cow Disease and Other Appetizing Subjects

Panelists debate what will be the next big killer disease, and discuss what maladies and epidemics we may see in the future.

J. Cameron Thyme, Dr. Eleanor Smithwick

Moderator Debbi Golden-Davis

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none

10 Friday, July 02, 1999 01:00 PM

The Biggest Explosions in the Universe

Gamma Ray Bursts: what are they, and what do they mean? How did scientists come to accept this explanation?

Dr. Charles "Chip" Meegan

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead projector

11 Friday, July 02, 1999 02:30 PM

The Theory of Evolution: What is it Really?

Panelists will each present their short summary of "the facts", followed by discussion, debate, and questions from the audience. Please refrain from introducing mythology or superstition into the discussion.

J. Cameron Thyme, James P. Hogan, Dr. Charles Meegan

Moderator Dr. Eleanor Smithwick

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead projector

12 Friday, July 02, 1999 04:00 PM

The Year In Science Game

A trivia quiz with prizes! The question pool will be limited to the time between July 1, 1998 and July 1, 1999.

C.J. Cherryh, Mozelle Funderburk, Jerry Samples

Moderator Earl Babbitt

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead Projector

13 Friday, July 02, 1999 05:30 PM

Mars: Past, Present and Future

Panelists discuss the current state of observation/exploration of the "Red Planet" and the possibilities of life (especially the Mars meteorite findings).

Les Johnson, April Whitt, Marianne Dyson

Moderator Richard Jakiel

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector

14 Friday, July 02, 1999 07:00 PM

What Weightlessness is Like

Marianne Dyson describes her experience in the "Vomit Comet", NASA's weightlessness training aircraft, and shows it in slides and video.

Marianne Dyson

Moderator none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm proj., VCR/monitor

15 Saturday, July 03, 1999 10:00 AM

Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program

Have you ever wondered when we will be able to travel to distant stars as easily as in science fiction stories? Les Johnson describes ongoing NASA research into the prospects for achieving the propulsion breakthroughs that would enable such far-future visions of interstellar travel.

Les Johnson

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead projector

16 Saturday, July 03, 1999 11:30 AM

The Disappearance of the Amazon Rain Forest and Global Warming

What is happening to the Amazon Rain forest, and how is this related to "global warming"? What is "global warming", and how is it effecting the ecology? Are there alternate explanations for these effects that do not require global warming?

Dr. Jeff Luvall, Bruce A. Pruitt

Moderator: Dr. Eleanor Smithwick,

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none

17 Saturday, July 03, 1999 01:00 PM

Optimism and the Future: Can Technology Solve All our Problems?

What are the "big problems" in society today, and can they be solved using future technology?

James P. Hogan, Robert Anton Wilson, Marianne Dyson

Moderator Les Johnson

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none

18 Saturday, July 03, 1999 02:30 PM

The Challenges of Teaching Science in America

Panelists discuss obstacles, both mundane and surprising, to teaching the fundamentals of science to elementary and high school students. They will then offer suggestions to solving these problems.

Phyllis Boros, C.J. Cherryh, Mozelle Funderburk

Moderator April Whitt

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead Projector

19 Saturday, July 03, 1999 04:00 PM

Weird Things Some People Believe

Seemingly rational people can believe in the most irrational things! Panelists discuss the influence superstition and crackpot science have on modern society.

Kevin J. Anderson, Robert Anton Wilson, Dr. Charles "Chip" Meegan, Les Johnson

Moderator Brad Linaweaver

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none

20 Saturday, July 03, 1999 05:30 PM

Forest Schultz Presents

Forest Schultz will present another of his fascinating topics this year, but at press time he was still developing the presentation, so you will just have to come and be surprised.

Forrest Schultz

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none

22 Sunday, July 04, 1999 10:00 AM

A New Reach to the Unreachable Stars

NSS Atlanta's Far Out Physics (FOP) committee reports on improved prospects for reasonable, ready and economic access to the planets, stars and beyond from the American Physical Society's Centennial meeting held in Atlanta this past March. We'll report on such topics as Stephen Hawking's new concepts of a compact 'nutshell universe' and inflation superseding expansion in the old standard cosmological model (SCM); Rydberg atoms and Bose Einstein Condensates as "atomic-sized solar systems"; and more!

William Gardiner

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: Overhead Projector

23 Sunday, July 04, 1999 11:30 AM

Space Solar Power

Solar power satellites were once thought to be the final solution to Earth's energy needs. What happened to them, and will they ever become reality? Find out in this presentation on the issues and progress towards the development of space energy resources.

Darrell Preble

Moderator: none

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector

24 Sunday, July 04, 1999 01:00 PM

National Space Society Open Meeting

Find out how you can be a part of creating a spacefaring civilization.

Avery Davis, Earl Babbitt

Moderator Jerry Samples

Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj.

 

 

TIME-SLOT#

Slot_Date

Slot_Time

1

Thursday, July 01, 1999

01:00 PM

2

Thursday, July 01, 1999

02:30 PM

3

Thursday, July 01, 1999

04:00 PM

4

Thursday, July 01, 1999

05:00 PM

5

Thursday, July 01, 1999

07:00 PM

6

Thursday, July 01, 1999

08:30 PM

7

Thursday, July 01, 1999

10:00 PM

8

Friday, July 02, 1999

10:00 AM

9

Friday, July 02, 1999

11:30 AM

10

Friday, July 02, 1999

01:00 PM

11

Friday, July 02, 1999

02:30 PM

12

Friday, July 02, 1999

04:00 PM

13

Friday, July 02, 1999

05:30 PM

14

Friday, July 02, 1999

07:00 PM

15

Saturday, July 03, 1999

10:00 AM

16

Saturday, July 03, 1999

11:30 AM

17

Saturday, July 03, 1999

01:00 PM

18

Saturday, July 03, 1999

02:30 PM

19

Saturday, July 03, 1999

04:00 PM

20

Saturday, July 03, 1999

05:30 PM

21

Saturday, July 03, 1999

07:00 PM

22

Sunday, July 04, 1999

10:00 AM

23

Sunday, July 04, 1999

11:30 AM

24

Sunday, July 04, 1999

01:00 PM

25

Sunday, July 04, 1999

02:30 PM

26

Sunday, July 04, 1999

04:00 PM

 

Back to home page